Electrical distribution



Nov. 11, 1924. 1,515,32

H. S. ARNOLD ET AL ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION Filed Dec. 29. 1923 2Sheets-Sheet 1 g mucmfoz HARRY SAR/VOLD RA Y c. W/L so/V $1 I 0 2..6301mm:

Nov. 1924- 1,515,324

H. s. ARNOLD ET AL ELECTRI CAL DI S TRIBU IION Filed Dec. 29, 1923 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Svwcntoz HARRY SARA OLD HA Y C WILSON Patented Nov. 11,1924.

UNITED STATES HARRY S. ARNOLD, OF BROOKLYN, AND RAY C. WILSON, OF NEWYORK, Y.

ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION.-

Applieation filed December 29, 1923. Serial No. 683,307.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it-known that we, HARRY S.- ARNOLD, a citizen of the United States,and a resident t Brooklyn, Kings County, and Stateof of covers designedNew York, and RAY C. WTLSON, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of the city, county, and State of New York, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Distribution, of whichthe followingis a specification. I

This invention relates particularly to flexible electric wiring systemsof the overhead or ceiling outlet type disclosed in our Patent1380,5387, in which wire raceways or conduits are embedded in theceiling slab and outlets, are provided therefrom opening downwardlythrough the ceiling and giving full access for all overhead wiringpurposes.

The objects of the invention are to make it possible to effect thewiring operations at the floor, aswell as the ceiling and to accomplisha practical combination of under-floor and overhead wiring by whichsubstantially any desireddistribution and outlet requirements can bequickly andinexpensively met.

The foregoing and other objects are attained through certain specialnovel features of construction, combination and relation of parts,embodiments of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawingsforming a part of the specification.

Figures 1 and 2 are broken sectional views illustratin first the settingof outlet ceiling fixtures, ittings or outlet boxes on the woodenceiling forms followed by the laying of the connecting raceways andembedding the whole in the slab.

Figure 3 is an enlarged broken plan view of one of the outlet fixturesand parts of the connecting raceways.

Figure d is an enlarged cross sectional view of one or the fixtures,fittings or outlet boxes on substantially the plane of line 4-4 ofFigure 2.

Figures 5 and 6 are further enlarged part sectional views of one type ofoutlet fixture, fittings or outlet box showin difi'erent forms for steelpipe conduit respectively.

Figure 7 is a bottom plan view of the fixture supporting ceiling platewhich forms the closure for the lower end of the outlet box. a

Figure 8 is a broken sectional view showduct and rigid same as onsubstantially the plane of line 1212 of Figure 11.

Figures 13 and 14 are broken plan and end views respectivelyillustrating the covering of the outlet fixtures with the conduit "orraceway itself, here shown as of the half round type held in place overthe fixture by cross straps.

Figure 15 is a broken sectional view illustratin further variations inthe possibilities o? the combined overhead and underfloor distributingsystem.

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate successive steps in the installation of thesystem in a combined ceiling and fioorslab structure. the wooden formfor the slabs is in place, the boxes or body portions 21 ofthe outletfixtures are positioned in the desired locations and secured directly onthe form. The slab is then built up in the usual way, for instance, bypouringa first coating 22 over the form, thenlaying a reinforcement 23and after that, casting the body 2 1 of the slab. The box body is madeof a hei ht and positioned so that its upper end wi 1 standsubstantially flush with the top of the slab and a temporary flat covermay be a plied over the open upper end of the box uring the curing of te concrete. Thus, with the bar ening of the concrete, the box bodiesbecomelfixed in the body of the slab with their upper ends substantiallyon a level with the top of the slab and so are fully ex-,

posed and accessible for the conduits or wire raceways which can be laiddirectly on top of the slab, connecting the various outlets.

The form of the raceway may vary, according to different requirements.One type which may be referred for general purposes is of troug shape,substantially half- After round in cross section, as indicated at 25;"

' structure.

In order that the box bodies may always beset at the necessary ordesired level, they are shown as having an external screwthread 28rolled or otherwise formed in the lower ends of the same to receive.correspondingly threaded positioning collars 29 Which have outstandingflanges 30 to rest upon the forms, perforated as at 31 to receive nailsor screws for positioning and holding them against rotation on theforms' These positioning collars may also have set screws as indicatedat 32 for securing the box bodies in their adjusted positions.

With the construction described, the sup: porting collars may be firstsecured in proper position on the forms and the box bodiesbe thenentered in the same and turned 'down to the proper level and faced inthe proper direction to take the lines of conduit which are to be laterapplied. After these vertical and rotary adjustments are made the setscrews may be tightened to prevent any shifting of the boxes during thesubsequent pouring operations. 1

The boxes are shown as open at the top to the full width of thehalf-round conduit and as having convergent sides tapering downwardly tosmaller sized outlets at the ceiling level. This construction providesthe great-,

est facility for wiring, enabling the wires to be drawn out or pushed inthrough the ceiling outlets or to be fed through the con duits pas" orbeyond the outlets. Theconduit itsel may be used to cover over the upper ends of the boxes, or covers of special construction may beprovided, according to diiierent requirements. Where the conduit is usedfor the purpose, as shownin Figures 13 and 14, the same may be securedin position over the open box by a cross strap or straps 33 secured byfastening screws 34 engaged with screw lugs 35 extended from the upperedges of the box.

In Figure 15 a halt-round form of box .cover is shoim at 36 secured inthe same manner as the straps and having arched entrances at itsopposite ends to receive the ends of two adjoining sections of thehalfround conduit. A. modification of these half-round covers isillustrated in Figures 10, 11 and 12 where they are shown as havingflattened sides 37 perforated to take the ends of rigid pipe conduit 38which may be used for carrying the service wires into the lines ofdistribution conduits. 7

Where rectangular steel duct is used for thedistribution conduit such asillustrated at 39in Figure 5, the box covers may be con structed asindicated in this view with a correspondingly rectangular shaped archway40 receiving the adjoining ends of such conduit. Where ri idconduit-only .is used the box covers may e constructed as in Figure 6,that is, as an upturned rectangular sided shallow box 41 havingknock-outs 42 or openings for the conduit preferably in all four sidesof the same. 3

To make the service available atthe floor level as well as the ceilingand facilitate the connecting-in of circuits at both places, the specialtype of cover illustrated in Figures 2, 4t and 15 may be employed,thesame consisting of an open box body 43 appliedtothe top of theceiling box and extending up to the floor level, where it is providedwith a detachable floor plate 44. This special floor box body is shownas having portals 45 in the opposite sides of the same for the halfroundconduit sections so as to provide the desired continuity of the wireracewayand at the same time" provide an outlet by which the wiringservice may be extended up through the floor. This special constructionalso,.it will be observed, enables wiring to be extended straightthrough from the ceiling below to the door above, or vice versa,.andgreatly facilitates the operations of feeding wires into or drawingwires out of the conduit either from above or below the slab or incasesof necessity, from both points at once.

The ceiling or combined ceiling and floor outlets described are usuallylocated at predetermined intervals in the system, the Spam ing dependingon the possible uses of the conduit, location of furniture, etc.,butwhere the need arises, outlets may be provided from the conduitsystem at points intermediate these fixed outlets. I

These intermediate outlets which enable thefull utilization of thesystem may be taken either through the ceiling or up through the floor,as indicated in Figures 8 and 15. The first is effected by cutting anopening 1-6 from the ceiling. up through the floor slab directly intothe wireraceway and thesecond, by'cutting an opening 47 down through thefloor intothe top of the raceway, the floor and ceiling outletsdisclosing the lines on which. the conduits run and making it possibleto easiiy drive these openings accurately either into the top or theunder side of the raceways.

In drilling up through the slab for the extra ceiling outleta-the' wallsof the opening made he more or less rough and for this reason it isusually desirable to protect the wiring from the rough edges andsharpcorners by means of a liner 4:8 slipped up into the hole and thisliner may be supported in position by a toggle bolt like that shown at.desired points.

49 adapted to carry a lighting fixture or the i like and supportingaceiling plate 50 which directly engages the lowerend of the liner. Thetogglebolt illustrated is of a well-known type carrying pivoted arms 51atvits upper end which fold down at the sides of the bolt shank when thesame is inserted up through the opening and then straighten out intoengagement over the bottom of the raceway, where they are locked in thissupporting position by a key 52. The fixture or other outlet device issupported by direct engagement with the lower extended end of the togglebolt. the weight being transmitted by said bolt directly to the top ofthe ceiling slab and the ceiling plate 50 provides the necessary 'finishby cooperating with the canopy orbase portion of the fixture. The extrafloor outlets may be lined as by means of a bushing 53 or pipe section54 screwed into the top of the wire raceway, through which the wires maybe drawn, as indicated.

By driving the floor outlets down into the conduit directly over theceiling outlets, ad-

' vantages .are gained in the drawing of the wires and connecting thefixtures as will be evident from the example illustrated at the centerin Figure 15. In such a case, b working at the most convenient side of t1e slab or from both sides of the slab, the splices .with the feed wiresmay be made either'at the ceilingor at the floor level, the wiring beingusuallyv partly withdrawn from the conduit during such operation andthen pushed back into place.

A particularly important feature of the invention is that the system canbe installed during the construction of a building without interferingwith the structural work. The outlet fixtures either for ceiling orfloor or both may be spaced at regular or irregular distances, dependingupon special requirements which have to be met by the architect;

And where extra outlets become desirable,

either at the fioor or ceiling levels, these can be easily and ijiiexpensively provided by simply cutting'into the wire raceways at theThe tapping of the feed wires is in many instances facilitated byextendi-ngthe outlet wiresback through the conduit to the nearestregular outlet box and making the splices at this box, substantiallyafter the manner indicated at 5-5 in Figure 15. This and the foregoingfeatures of flexibility makes it possibleto meet practically any wiringproblems that may arise.

The ceiling outlet fixtures which are put in at the time of installingthe system are closed off at their lower ends by suitable ceilingplates, as shown particularly in'Figures and (3. Where a chandelier orother fixture is to be installed, this ceiling plate may be constructedas shown at in Figure 6; that is, with a central stud to be engaged bythe fixture stern and a wide ceiling flange to be engaged by the canopyof the fixture and to provide a proper joint between the fixture andceiling. If the outlet is not to be put into use at once, the same maybe closed off by a; simple cover plate such as shown at 61 in Figure 5.Both these forms of closures are shown as connected with the mouth ofsiderably greater number of wires than would ordinarily be considerednecessary in the original planning of the structure or in a non-flexiblewiring system, with the ceiling outlets opening up into the fullinterior of the raceway and the floor outlets opening downwardly intothe raceway will be seen to provide a completely flexible system whichcan be quickly tapped either from above or 9 below at any'pointsintermediate the originally installed ceiling or floor outlets and onein which the wiring may be easily fished through these tapped outletseither from the floor or from the ceiling as may be most convenient. Inmany cases, most or all. of the fishing operations may be carried on atthe floor level which is a great advantage in the saving of time andtrouble.

Theraceway can be tapped at any time for the addition of as may extrafloor or ceiling outlets as required without in anyway marring ordestroying the original architectural features of the structure and atcomparatively slight expense.

While we have disclosed herein various practical embodiments of theinvention and 7 s stems having its lower end open for therawing of thewires at the ceiling and both internally and externally screw threaded,an internally screw threaded collar adapted for mountin on the form of aceiling slab and engage over the externally screw threaded lower end ofthe fitting to support the fitting on the form with a capability ofrotary and vertical adjustments of the litting and a ceiling plateproviding a finish between the ceiling and the open end of the fitting,said plate having an externally screw threaded neck portion engageablewith the internally screw threaded portion of the fitting to properlyjoin the fitting and ceiling irrespective of the adjustment provided bythe supporting collar between the fitting and ceiling slab.

2. A ceiling outlet fixture, outlet box or fitting for overheadelectrical distribution systems having its lower end open for thedrawing of the wires at the ceiling and provided with attaching meansboth at the inside and the outside of said open lower end, a supportingcollar for mountingon a ceiling form having attaching means complementalto the external attaching means and relatively adjustable in respectthereto, whereby to enable an adjustable mounting of the fitting uponthe ceiling form and a ceiling plate having a wide flange engage theinternal'attaching means of, the fitting to thereby enable the seatingof said plate to the ceiling irrespective of adjustments of the fittingto the ceiling term.

3 A ceiling outlet fixture, outlet box or fitting for overheadelectrical distribution systems having its lower end open for thedrawing of the wires at the ceiling and provided with attaching meansboth at the in side and the outside of said open lower end,

i a supporting collar for mounting on a ceiling form having attachingmeans comple' mental to the external. attaching means and relatilvelyadjustable in respect thereto,

whereby to enable an adjustable mounting of the fitting upon the ceilingform and a ceiling plate having a wide flange engageable with theceiling and attaching means complemental and relatively adjustable tothe internal attaching means of the fitting to thereby enable thesetting of said plate to the ceiling irrespective oiadjustments' of thefitting to the ceiling form, said fitting being open at the top andmeans for holding diilerent forms of wiring conduit interchangeablyengageable over said open top of the fitting for "enabling the useoidiifferent types of conduit with the same litt e 4. havin a wireraceway therein and ceiling and roor outlet fixtures, boxes or fittingsin the slab interposed in and open to said raceway, having ceilingoutlets at the bottom open to the ceiling, and'floor outlets at the topopen to the door and thereby enabling the wiring to be extended fromsaid raceway out through selected portions of either the ceiling or thedoor or from ceiling-to, floor or vice versa.

lncombination, a ceiling and floor slab ting for installation in acombined floor and 5. In electrical distribution, an outlet fitceilingslab, comprising a box structure open at the top for admission of thewiring and open at the'bottom to form a ceiling outlet, a box membermounted over said Celling outlet member open at the bottointo saidoutlet box or fitting open to said conduit and having a ceiling outletin the bottom of the same open to the ceiling and "a floor outlet in thetop of the same open to the floor whereby the wiring, maybe extendedfrom the conduit out through either the ceiling or the floor or mayextend directly from ceiling to floor, or vice versa.

7. In combination, a ceiling and floor slab, a wiring conduit embeddedtherein and accessible from below "for providing ceiling outlets and acombination ceiling and floor outlet fixture outlet box or fitting incommunication with said conduit having cover plates accessible at topand bottom of the same for drawing the wires of the conduit systemeither at the floor or at the ceiling.

8. in combination, a ceiling and floor slab, a conduit embedded in saidslab and accessible along the length of the same from both 1 the ceilingand the floor levels for the drawing of the wires of the system andoutlet fixtures boxes or fittings at predetermined points in the conduitopening to both the ceiling; and to the floor.

9. In combination, a ceiling and floor slab, a conduit embedded in saidslab and users sible along the length of the same from both the ceilingand the floor levels for the drawing of the wires of the system, outletfixtunes, boxes or fittings at predetermined points in the conduitopening to both the ceiling and to the floor and other outlet fixturesin the conduit opening only to the ceiling.

10., In combination, a'ceiling and floor slab, a half-round conduitembedded there in, outlet fixtures. boxes or fittings opening up intovsaid conduit from. the ceiling level of the slab and otheroutlet'fixtuies opening down into said conduit from the floor level ofthe slab.

11. In combination, a ceiling and floor slab, a half-round conduitembedded therein, outlet fixtures, boxes or fittings opening up intosaid conduit from the ceiling level of the slab and other outletfixtures opening down into said conduit from the floor level of theslab, certain of the said floor outlet fixtures being directly overceiling outletfixtures and other of the floor outlet fixtures beingoffset with respect to ceiling outlet fixtures to enable the drawing andthe splicing of the conduit wires from both floor and ceiling in avariety of ways.

12. As an article of manufacture, an outlet fitting for wire racewayscomprising a generally funnel shaped box structure open at the bottom toafiord a ceiling outlet and having a wide opening at the top to afford'free communication with the wire raceway, said fitting having portionsin a plane substantially at right angles to the axis of the fittingabout its larger open upper end forming attaching means forinterchangeable conduit connecting devices and provided with screw seatsfor attachment screws used in the securing of such conduit con-- nectingdevices.

13. A flexible combined ceiling and fioor outlet electrical distributionsystem comprising in combination with a ceiling and i floor slab havinga continuous over-size wire raceway therein, accessible throughout itslength from both the floor and the ceiling side of the slab to enableits being tapped at any points in its length from either the ceilingorthe floor and having at predetermined points therein outlets to thefloor and outlets to the ceiling whereby circuit wires may be fishedthrough said raceway either from above or from below to the points atwhich the raceway may be tapped.

14. A flexible combined ceiling and floor outlet electrical distributionsystem comprising a continuous over-size wiring con-.

duit accessible throughout its length from either above or below,ceiling outlet boxes or fittings open at the top to the full interior ofsaid wiring conduit and open at the bottom to provide ceiling outletsfor the wiring in the raceway or w'ring entered into the raceway atpoints w ere the raceway has been fishing of wiring from the floor tothe ceiling side or vice versa or the fishing of wirihg to the tappedoutlets at either the floor or the ceiling. '15. In electricaldistribution, anoutlet fitting for installation in a ceiling slabcomprising a box structure open at the top foradmission of the wiringand open at the bottom to form a ceiling outlet and covers for holdingdilferent forms and shapes of wiring conduit and interchangeablyengageable over said open'top of the fitting for -.adapting thefittingto various kinds of conduit systems. I

'16. The herein disclosed process, of flex- "ible electricaldistribution, which comprises the provision of an oversize wiringraceway in a combined floor and ceiling slab capable of freely carryinga considerably greater number of wires than would ordinarily be requiredin a non-flexible wiring system,

installing with said raceway at predetermined oints in the length of thesame, outlet fittings open to the ceiling and outlet fittings opening tothe floor, and thereafter entering" said raceway from the floor leveland from the ceiling side of the slab at points intermediate theinitially installed floor and ceiling outlets and fishing the wiringeither from above or from below the slab through the infiially installedoutlets to the intermediate points at which the raceway is tapped.

In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands this 28th day ofDecember, 1923.

HARRY sxnuonn. RAY 0. WILSON.

